MD HB1539

Creates the Maryland Labor Relations Board as an independent state agency with 5 members appointed by the Governor to 5-year staggered terms, requiring expertise in labor law, mediation, or negotiations

Grants private sector employees rights to form unions, engage in collective bargaining, and strike, while excluding agricultural workers, domestic workers, independent contractors, supervisory employees, and those covered by the federal Railway Labor Act

Establishes election procedures requiring 30% employee signatures to trigger a vote, with automatic union certification if more than 50% of employees sign authorization cards without needing an election

Prohibits unfair labor practices by employers (interference, surveillance, discrimination, refusal to bargain) and unions (coercion, failure to fairly represent all employees), with the Board empowered to issue subpoenas and order remedial actions

Takes effect only if the federal National Labor Relations Act is repealed/voided or the NLRB cedes jurisdiction to Maryland, with the state Department of Labor monitoring for this contingency